Hoe construction



Patented June 15, 1937 UNITED STATES HOE CONSTRUCTION James Napolis and Samuel Deliagola, Worcester, Mass.

Application September 25, 1935, Serial No. 42,074

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to a hoe construction, particularly to a novel shape for the blade, as well as a novel structure by which the blade is fastened to the hoe handle.

In the manufacture of double ended hoes the attachment of the hoe to the handle in such a manner as to be sufficiently rigid and at the same time light in weight, has presented a problem. The usual light weight structures by which the blades are fastened are generally so insecure as to be bent or broken after a short period of use. One of the principal features of the present invention resides in the provision of an attaching means which is sufficiently rigid to hold the hoe blade in proper relation to the handle at all times.

In the usual hoe construction a blade extends substantially at right angles to the handle, and has a single cutting edge, although there are certain double bladed hoes having a cutting edge at opposite ends of the blade. All of these single or double-ended hoe blades are not balanced with respect to the handle and the tendency is for one end of the blade to extend downwardly at all times so that the user must consciously hold the handle turned to the proper position when the lighter end of the hoe is in use.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a double ended hoe which is balanced with respect to the handle, and which is so shaped as to render the hoe substantially universally usable.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in Which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hoe embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the hoe blade.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the blade with the socket for the handle attached thereto.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line 4-H of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail of the washer and U-shaped bolt by which the socket is attached to the blade.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the blade I of the hoe is attached by a socket 2 to the end of the usual handle 3. The particular shape of the handle is 50 not important and is not a part of the invention.

It will be noted that the end of the handle is tapered slightly to conform to the slight taper of the socket to assure a tight fit between the socket and the handle. For more secure attachment the 55 socket may be provided with a small opening 4 in the side wall, through which a suitable fastening, such as the nail 5, extends to engage the handle.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the blade 1 which is preferably of flat steel, or other suitable metal, has a centrally located circular offset 6 to which the socket 2 is attached. Extending lengthwise of the blade from both sides of the offset are tapering ribs 1, the latter being formed by offsetting the material from the plane of the blade, as shown in Fig. 3. The offset 6 and the ribs i form one continuous rib extending substantially the entire length of the blade, as will be apparent.

One end 8 of the blade extends at right angles to the offset ribs 7 and the side edges 9 extend back from the end 8 in parallel relation to each other and at right angles to said end edge. A short distance back from the end edge 8 the side edges of the hoe begin to converge toward each other along straight side edges iii. The opposite side edges H! are connected by an arcuate end edge i I which provides a relatively sharp cutting edge opposite to the square end 8. The end edge 8 is sharpened for one cutting edge, and the side edges ill and arcuate end edge ll are also sharpened by beveling, as shown, to form the opposite cutting edge. The weight distribution in the hoe blade as a result of the particular shape is such that the center of gravity of the hoe blade is substantially centrally of the circular offset 6. By this arrangement the blade is always balanced with respect to the handle and either cutting edge of the blade can be used without the necessity for carefully holding the handle to prevent turning of the blade which would result if the blade were not balanced on the handle.

The socket 2 which is in the form of a cup is attached to the blade I by a U-shaped rivet l2 which extends through .two spaced openings i3 in the base of the socket and correspondingly spaced openings M in the circular oifset 6 in the blade. For a more rigid attachment a heavy washer or disk I5 is positioned in the base of the socket between the central portion of the rivet and said socket. As shown in Fig. 5, the washer l5, which is substantially the same diameter as the base of the socket, has notches It at opposite sides thereof to receive the opposite legs of the rivet. The ends of the rivet extending through the hoe blade are headed over as at ii on the back side of the blade. Obviously a common U- shaped bolt, or other U-shaped fastener could be substituted for the rivet.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the hoe blade is so shaped as to provide a relatively sharp rounded point at one end and a square edge at the opposite end so that either end of the hoe is equally usable. The rounded end by reason of its narrowness is readily usable Where the opposite end is too broad, and being narrow can be used for hoeing deeper than if the blade were wider. The rounded end furthermore permits the hoe to dig more easily than a squared end. Moreover, by the rigid attachment of the blade to the socket which receives the handle, the blade will be firmly supported at right angles to the handle in such a manner that no amount of strain on either end of the blade as a result of its use will result in removal of the blade from the socket. At the same time the attachment of the blade at its center of gravity to the handle permits the hoe to be handled more easily.

We claim:

1. In a tool construction, a socket engageable with a handle and having spaced openings in the base thereof, a substantially flat blade having spaced openings substantially centrally thereoil and a U-shaped fastener extending from within the socket through the openings in said socket and said blade for permanently attaching the socket to the blade.

2. In a tool construction, a socket engageable with a handle and having spaced openings in the base thereof, a substantially flat blade having spaced openings substantially centrally thereof, a U-shaped fastener extending from within the socket through the openings in said socket and said blade for permanently attaching the socket to the blade, and a washer inserted in the base of the socket between said fastener and the base.

3. In a hoe construction, a socket engageable with a handle and having spaced openings in the base thereof, a substantially flat blade hav ing spaced openings substantially centrally thereof, a U-shaped fastener extending from within the socket through the openings in said socket and said blade for permanently attaching the socket to the blade, and a washer corresponding substantially in diameter to the base of the socket and positioned in said socket between the fastener and the base, said washer having notches stantially flat blade having a circular recess substantially centrally thereof and spaced openings in said recess, a U-shaped fastener extending from within the socket and through the spaced openings in the blade and socket for attaching the socket to the blade, and a washer positioned in the base of the socket between said fastener and the base.

5. In a hoe construction, a socket engageable with a handle and having spaced openings in the base thereof, said openings being located adjacent the opposite edges of said base, a substantially fiat double ended blade having a circular recess substantially centrally thereof and reinforcing ribs extending longitudinally of the blade from opposite sides of the recess, said recess having spaced openings therein in alinement with the ribs, and a U-shaped fastener extending from Within the socket through the openings in the blade and socket for attaching the socket to the blade.

6. In a hoe construction, a socket engageable with a handle and having spaced openings in the base thereof, said openings being located adjacent the opposite edges of said base, a substantially flat double ended blade having a circular recess located substantially at the center of gravity of said blade, the latter tapering toward one end to form a narrow rounded point, reinforcing ribs extending longitudinally of the blade from opposite sides of the recess, said recess having openings therethrough in line with the ribs, a washer positioned within the base of the socket and having notches in opposite edges thereof, and a U-shaped fastener extending through the notches in the washer and through the openings in the socket and blade for positively attaching the socket to the blade.

JAMES NAPOLIS. SAMUEL DELLAGOLA. 

